Upgrade to LODO during Cold Crash and Purge

[ike8228]

So I finally got the last pieces of my system. I had got a few ideas from other posts and came up with this. I can use this in my carboys during cold crash and also in cold crash/purging trub in my conicals without removing the bung. Two valves allow me to refill the balloon as it shrinks do to cold crashing and slowing of CO2 in the ballon itself. Close the valve to the fermenter, open to CO2 tank, fill, close CO2 valve, open valve to fermenter. Boom.

One of my many improvements to minimize Oxygen exposure.

Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

"Boom" may not be the optimal word choice here
But I like the solution

Cheers!

 

[RPh_Guy]

Why not spund with a closed transfer to a purged keg? That's the process low oxygen brewers use.

Balloons are pretty permeable to gasses; that's why helium balloons drop after a couple days.

 

[ike8228]

Why not spund with a closed transfer to a purged keg? That's the process low oxygen brewers use.

Balloons are pretty permeable to gasses; that's why helium balloons drop after a couple days.

I don’t keg, yet. Others most likely don’t either. Creating other forms to minimize oxygen in non kegging scenarios is both fun (for me) and challenging.

Yes all balloons will permeate over time. But ask yourself how long does a helium balloon take to drop? Days, weeks. During cold crash the balloon only needs to sustain pressure for 24-48hrs. Even if some oxygen makes its way in the amount is negligible.

 

[RPh_Guy]

So, if you bottle like I do, cold crashing is the one of the worst things we can do. Oxygen pickup is unavoidable when bottling; we needed active yeast to scavenge it. The oxygen permeability of the balloon and the oxygen in the CO2 tank are just compounding the oxidation issue.

Spunding or priming the fermenter and bottling straight from there (if you miss the spunding window) are the ideal methods, plus they aren't difficult and don't require any extra gadgets.

 

[ike8228]

I hear what your saying but I’ve been cold crashing for awhile and haven’t had an issue with priming/carbonation, so there is active yeast. I know it is not 100% but 80% is better than 50%.

What about in terms or purging a conical. Dumping the trub will suck air in. Having a balloon with CO2 being sucked in is better than air. Then the blowoff tub goes back on.